WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has recently made public its final action on 19 matters previously under review (MURs). This release contains only summary information. Closed files should be thoroughly read for details, including the FECís legal analysis of the case. (See footnote at the end of this release.) Closed MUR files are available in the Public Records Office.

1. MUR 4646

RESPONDENTS: (a) Amy Robin Habie (FL)

(b) Wallace Walker (FL)

(c) Rhea Weil (FL)

(d) Lawrence Herman (FL)

(e) Sue Sakolsky (FL)

(f) Sonia Pinkus (FL)

(g) Carol J. Lewis (FL)

(h) David Boies (NY)

(i) Friends of Jane Harman, Jacki Bacharach, treasurer (WA)

(j) Kennedy for Senate 2000, John S. Zamparelli, treasurer (MA)

COMPLAINANT: Scott P. Lewis and Carol J. Lewis (FL)

SUBJECT: Contributions in the names of others

DISPOSITION: (a-f) Conciliation Agreement: $ 50,000 civil penalty*

Conciliation Agreement: $ 750 civil penalty*

Took no action*

(i-j) Took no action*

[re: The Commission instructed respondents to disgorge equivalent amounts of impermissible contributions to United States Treasury.]

SUBJECT: Failure to report receipt of in-kind contributions from political committees;
failure to return or deposit political committee contribution checks within 10 days of treasurerís receipt; failure to itemize contributions from authorized
campaign committees, failure to itemize disbursements

DISPOSITION: (a) No reason to believe*

(b) Conciliation Agreement: $ 8,000 civil penalty*

[Respondents will amend their 1998 30 Day Post-General Report to disclose in-kind contributions from the National Chamber Alliance for
Politics and the National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund.]

6. MUR 4869

RESPONDENTS: American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO (KY)

COMPLAINANT: Marcus S. Hash (KY)

SUBJECT: Use of union dues for endorsement of federal candidates

DISPOSITION: No reason to believe*

7. MUR 4885/Pre-MUR 362

RESPONDENTS: (a) Laredo National Bank (TX)

(b) Gary G. Jacobs (TX)

(c) Mrs. Gary G. Jacobs (TX)

COMPLAINANT: Referral by Robert B. Serino, Deputy Chief Counsel, Comptroller of the Currency, Administration of National Banks (DC)

SUBJECT: National bank contribution/contributions in the name of another

The Enforcement Priority System (EPS) rates all incoming cases against objective criteria to determine whether they warrant use of the Commissionís limited resources.

Cases dismissed under EPS fall into two categories: low-rated cases and stale cases. Low-rated cases are those that do not warrant use of the Commissionís resources to pursue because of their lower significance relative to other pending matters. Stale cases are those that initially received a higher rating but have remained unassigned for a significant period due to a lack of staff resources for effective investigation. Effective enforcement relies upon the timely pursuit of complaints and referrals to ensure compliance with the law. Investigations concerning activity more remote in time usually require a greater commitment of resources, primarily due to the fact that the evidence of such activity becomes more difficult to develop as it ages. The utility of commencing an investigation declines as these cases age, until they reach a point when activation of a case would not be an efficient use of the Commissionís resources. As cases reach this point, they are recommended for dismissal.

It requires the votes of at least four of the six Commissioners to take any action. The FEC can close a case at any point after reviewing a complaint. If a violation is found and conciliation cannot be reached, then the FEC can institute a civil court action against a respondent.